Final answer:
Conjugate vaccines are critical for providing immunity against Haemophilus influenzae, especially in infants, and are also used for vaccines against pneumococcus. The Hib conjugate vaccine reduces the incidence of meningitis in children, and conjugate vaccines prompt a stronger immune response in young children.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conjugate vaccines have been very useful for inducing protective immunity against bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae, especially in infants, and current vaccines against pneumococcus are also conjugate vaccines.
Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) can cause meningitis and other serious infections in young children. Without the use of the Hib vaccine, H. influenzae could be the primary cause of meningitis in children 2 months through 5 years of age. However, due to the introduction of the effective Hib vaccine, incidences of meningitis caused by this pathogen have significantly decreased.
When considering vaccines against pneumococcus, the conjugate vaccines are also critical. They work by attaching a weak antigen to a strong antigen, ensuring that the immune system has a stronger response to the weak antigen. This method has proven extremely beneficial for protecting infants and young children from serious diseases caused by pneumococcal bacteria.